Ring for relieving the urge to smoke

ABSTRACT

A device adapted to be worn on a human finger and used to relieve the wearer of the urge to smoke by addressing some of the mentally addictive aspects of smoking. The device has first and second portions that cooperate to define an opening having an axis and sized to receive a human finger. A cylindrical-shaped feature is disposed at the second portion and oriented so that an axis thereof is perpendicular to the axis of the opening. The cylindrical-shaped feature is configured so as not to be capable of securing a cigarette.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/885,762, filed Jan. 19, 2007, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to articles that can be worn ona finger, and more particularly to a device that when worn helps toalleviate the wearer's urge to smoke.

Various types of medications and therapies have been proposed to helpcurb a smoker's urge to smoke. Most are rather expensive and often don'taddress some of the habits of smokers that, to some extent, contributeto the perceived satisfaction or mentally addictive aspects of smoking.For example, the act of smoking involves the use of the fingers,including holding, rolling, and flicking the ashes from a cigarette, allof which can serve to occupy and calm the smoker and in any event oftencontribute to the mental addiction that smokers develop over time.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device adapted to be worn on a humanfinger and used to relieve the wearer of the urge to smoke by addressingsome of the mentally addictive aspects of smoking.

The device has first and second portions that cooperate to define anopening having an axis and sized to axially receive a human finger. Acylindrical-shaped feature is disposed at the second portion andoriented so that an axis thereof is perpendicular to the axis of theopening. The cylindrical-shaped feature is configured so as not to becapable of securing a cigarette.

In view of the above, it can be seen that the device can be very simplein its construction. When worn, the first portion partial surrounds thewearer's finger and the cylindrical-shaped feature is positioned andoriented to simulate a cigarette located between the finger on which thedevice is worn and a second finger of the wearer. The cylindrical-shapedfeature preferably defines a protrusion that the wearer can manipulatein a manner similar to a cigarette. As such, the wearer can use thedevice to perform habitual acts associated with smoking, for example,holding the cylindrical-shaped feature between two fingers and flickingone end of the cylindrical-shaped feature to simulate flicking the ashesfrom a cigarette. Such acts tend to occupy and calm the smoker,relieving at least in part the urge to smoke.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be betterappreciated from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show a side view and opposing end views, respectively,of a device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side and end views of a device in accordance with asecond embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side and end views of a device in accordance with athird embodiment of this invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict the use of the device of FIGS. 1 through 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 7 depict three embodiments of a device 10 capable ofbeing worn on a finger to simulate holding a cigarette, thereby at leastpartially alleviating the wearer's urge to smoke. In the Figures,consistent reference numbers are used to identify functionally similarstructures.

The device 10 of each embodiment is fashioned similarly to a ring. InFIGS. 1 through 3, the device 10 has an arcuate portion 12 and a solidcylindrical portion 16 that cooperate to define an opening 18 having anaxis 14. The arcuate portion 12 is at least partially and preferablyentirely defined by an axis of curvature that coincides with the axis 14of the opening 18. The cylindrical portion 16 is immovable relative tothe arcuate portion 12 and oriented so that its axis 28 is perpendicularto the axis 14 of the opening 18. In a preferred embodiment, the arcuateand cylindrical portions 12 and 16 are simultaneously formed, such as byinjection molding.

The opening 18 is sized to receive a human finger, and preferably anyfinger of a given user, in the direction of its axis 14. Because thesize of human fingers vary widely, the device 10 is preferably producedin a wide variety of sizes. Generally, a maximum width (diameter) of theopening 18 will typically be less than one inch (about 2.5 cm), forexample, about 0.75 to about 0.85 inch (about 1.9 to 2.2 cm). Thecross-sectional shape and thickness of the arcuate portion 12 can alsovary widely, though will typically be chosen with consideration for thecomfort of the wearer. A round cross-sectional shape is suitable,resulting in the arcuate portion 12 being a partial toroid. A suitablecross-sectional thickness for the arcuate section is about 1/16 inch(about 1.5 mm).

The cross-sectional thickness and shape of the cylindrical portion 16preferably simulate that of a cigarette. The cross-sectional shape ofthe cylindrical portion 16 is therefore preferably circular and constantalong its entire length between first and second ends 20 and 22 thereof,and the diameter of the cylindrical portion 16 is preferably about 5/16inch (about 8 mm). The length of the cylindrical portion 16 is notcritical to the extent that the portion 16 is not required to simulatethe full length of a cigarette. However, a sufficient length ensuresthat the portion 16 will provide for an adequate simulation. Inpractice, a length greater than the maximum outer diameter of thearcuate portion 12 is preferred, for example, about 1⅛ inch (about 2.7cm) is believed suitable. In FIG. 1, the length of the cylindricalportion 16 can be seen as offset relative to a transverse axis 24 of theopening 18, such that the first end 20 of the cylindrical portion 16defines a protrusion that projects from the edge of the arcuate portion12, and extends farther leftward (as viewed in FIG. 1) from the axis 24than the farthest extent of the arcuate portion 12. In contrast, thesecond end 22 of the cylindrical portion 16 does not extend as farrightward (as viewed in FIG. 1) from the axis 24 as the farthest extentof the arcuate portion 12. Instead, the arcuate portion 12 is shownadjoining the second end 22 of the cylindrical portion 16 and amidportion of the cylindrical portion 16 between its first and secondends 20 and 22. Finally, the cylindrical portion 16 helps to define theopening 18, such that the interior boundary 26 of the opening 18 isarcuate (26A) where defined by the arcuate portion 12 and straight (26B)where defined by the cylindrical portion 16. With the construction asdescribed above and shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 can be seen as havinga lowercase d-shaped cross-section in the plane perpendicular to theaxis 14 of the opening 18.

As seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the shape and length of the cylindricalportion 16 enables the wearer to hold (FIG. 8) and flick (FIG. 9) thecylindrical portion 16 much as the wearer would hold and flick acigarette. Notably, the cylindrical portion 16 does not have anystructure or feature capable of securing a cigarette to the device 10,for example, a ring or tube into which a cigarette can be inserted or aclip capable of grasping a cigarette. Because the device 10 is intendedto help the wearer resist smoking, any such feature capable of securinga cigarette would defeat the purpose of the device 10.

The embodiments of the device 10 shown in FIGS. 4 through 7 differ fromthat of FIGS. 1 through 3 primarily by the length of the cylindricalportion 16 and the manner in which the cylindrical portion 16 isintegrated into the arcuate portion 12. In FIGS. 4 and 5, thecylindrical portion 16 is a discrete component having a tubular shape,and the arcuate portion 12 is a complete toroid or annulus, a segment16A of which is within the interior 30 of the cylindrical portion 16.The interior wall of the cylindrical portion 16 preferably contacts thesegment 16A at three points as shown, thereby inhibiting movement of thecylindrical portion 16 around the arcuate portion 12. In FIGS. 6 and 7,the cylindrical portion 16 is a solid cylinder, and the arcuate portion12 adjoins both ends 20 and 22 of the cylindrical portion 16. As withthe embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3, the cylindrical portion 16 in FIGS.6 and 7 is completely immovable relative to the arcuate portion 12. Itis foreseeable that the arcuate and cylindrical portions 12 and 16 ofFIGS. 4 through 7 could be individually formed (such as by injectionmolding) and then assembled, or formed in a single process, or by someother suitable procedure.

The arcuate and cylindrical portions 12 and 16 can be formed from avariety of materials, including thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) such asSantoprene. If formed separately, such as for the embodiments of FIGS. 4through 7, the arcuate portion 12 may be a formed of a silicone rubberand the cylindrical portion 16 can be formed of plastic tubing used asis (e.g., FIGS. 4 and 5) or filled to form a solid cylinder (e.g., FIGS.6 and 7).

While the invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments,it is apparent that other forms could be adopted by one skilled in theart. For example, the physical configuration of the device 10 coulddiffer from that shown, and materials, dimensions, and processes otherthan those noted could be used. Therefore, the scope of the invention isto be limited only by the following claims.

1. A device adapted to be worn on a human finger to relieve the wearerof the urge to smoke, the device comprising: a first portion and asecond portion that cooperate to define an opening having an axis andsized to receive a human finger; a cylindrical-shaped feature at thesecond portion, the cylindrical-shaped feature being oriented so that anaxis thereof is perpendicular to the axis of the opening, thecylindrical-shaped feature being configured so as not to be capable ofsecuring a cigarette.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein theopening has an arcuate boundary portion defined by the first portion anda straight boundary portion defined by the cylindrical-shaped feature.3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical-shapedfeature is immovable on the second portion.
 4. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the cylindrical-shaped feature is a solid cylinder. 5.The device according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical-shaped featurecomprises a tube surrounding the second portion such that a portion ofthe cylindrical-shaped feature defines a straight boundary portion ofthe opening.
 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein thecylindrical-shaped feature has a cross-sectional diameter larger thanthe maximum cross-sectional thickness of the first portion of the deviceand smaller than the maximum width of the opening.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical-shaped feature hasoppositely-disposed first and second ends that define a lengththerebetween, and the length of the cylindrical-shaped feature is longerthan a maximum outer diameter of the first portion.
 8. The deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the first end of the cylindrical-shapedfeature defines a protrusion that extends beyond an outer boundary ofthe first portion.
 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the firstportion defines a partial toroid adjoining the second portion at firstand second locations.
 10. The device according to claim 9, wherein thesecond portion is arcuate and entirely enclosed by thecylindrical-shaped feature.
 11. The device according to claim 9, whereinthe second portion is entirely defined by the cylindrical-shapedfeature.
 12. The device according to claim 11, wherein thecylindrical-shaped feature has oppositely-disposed first and second endsand a midportion therebetween, and the partial toroid adjoins the secondend and the midportion of the cylindrical-shaped feature.
 13. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the first portion is defined at least inpart by an axis of curvature that coincides with the axis of theopening.
 14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device has ad-shaped cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the axis of theopening.
 15. A device adapted to be worn on a human finger to relievethe wearer of the urge to smoke, the device comprising: an arcuateportion; and a solid cylindrical portion immovable relative to thearcuate portion and cooperating with the arcuate portion to define anopening having an axis and sized to receive a human finger, thecylindrical portion being oriented so that an axis thereof isperpendicular to the axis of the opening, the cylindrical portion havingoppositely-disposed first and second ends that define a lengththerebetween, the length of the cylindrical portion being longer than amaximum outer diameter of the arcuate portion such that the first end ofthe cylindrical portion defines a protrusion that extends beyond anouter boundary of the arcuate portion; wherein the cylindrical portionis configured so as not to be capable of securing a cigarette.
 16. Thedevice according to claim 15, wherein the opening has an arcuateboundary portion defined by the arcuate portion and a straight boundaryportion defined by the cylindrical portion.
 17. The device according toclaim 15, wherein the cylindrical portion has a cross-sectional diameterlarger than the maximum cross-sectional thickness of the arcuate portionand smaller than the maximum width of the opening.
 18. The deviceaccording to claim 15, wherein the arcuate portion defines a partialtoroid adjoining the second end of the cylindrical portion and adjoininga midportion of the cylindrical portion between the first and secondends thereof.
 19. The device according to claim 15, wherein the arcuateportion is defined at least in part by an axis of curvature thatcoincides with the axis of the opening.
 20. The device according toclaim 15, wherein the device has a d-shaped cross-section in a planeperpendicular to the axis of the opening.